The Former Minister of Niger Delta Development, Abubakar Momoh, has stated that the scrapping of the ministry is to enhance regional development coordination.
On Wednesday, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) scrapped the ministry of Niger Delta and the Ministry of Sports Development.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, said the council took the decision during its meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu in Abuja.
A newly established regional development ministry will oversee all the regional development commissions.
The commissions include the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), North West Development Commission (NWDC), South West Development Commission (SWDC), and North East Development Commission (NEDC).
Tinubu retained Momoh as the minister in charge of the ministry for regional development.
Speaking with State House correspondents after the meeting, Momoh assured that the adjustment was “purely administrative,” which did not diminish the focus on Niger Delta development.
He said the restructuring was done to establish a centralised oversight system for the increasing regional development commissions nationwide.
“For our people in the Niger Delta region, I would like them to know that this has not removed anything from them,” Momoh said.
“The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is still very much in place under the ministry of regional Development, and all other such agencies remain intact.
“All the structures and everything about the Niger Delta remain. It’s just a change of nomenclature and, of course, expansion of activities of the ministry.”
Momoh lauded Tinubu’s vision behind the restructuring, describing it as a “forward-thinking move” to enhance regional development coordination across the country.
